“The gates of hell shall not prevail” (v18). The “gates of hell” represents all the demons and evil strategy that Satan can marshal in an attempt to destroy the church or to withstand its mission in the world. (1) This passage does not mean that any particular believer, local church, fellowship of churches, or denomination will be immune to doctrinal error or otherwise be overcome by sin or Satan’s snares. Jesus warned believers and churches of possible spiritual deception and failure (Mat 24:10-11; Rev 2:5,12-29; 3:1-6,14-16; see 1 Tim 4:1).

(2) What this passage means is that in spite of Satan doing his worst, the church that Jesus Christ is building cannot, in the end, be overcome by Satan. God’s true church will rise up in faith, authority and the power of the Holy Spirit to righteously assault Satan’s kingdom and domain of darkness by delivering people from sin, disease, bondage and oppression. The church that Jesus is building can never be destroyed nor successfully be resisted by Satan (see v. 19).
Christ’s Resurrection And His Kingdom

The resurrection of Jesus Christ ensures that the ruler of God’s eternal kingdom is the living Christ (Rev 1:18; 5:13; 15:3; 19:16; Dan 7:13,14), not just an idea, hope, dream or ideology. Jesus’ bodily resurrection shows us that the living Christ is ruler of God’s eternal kingdom, (Rev 11:15; 15:3; 19:16) not a false prophet or imposter The Kingdom of Jesus is an “everlasting Kingdom” (Is 9:6,7)

The Kingdom of God (or heaven) carries the idea of God coming into the world to assert His power, glory and rights against Satan’s dominion and the present course of this world. It is more than salvation or the church; it is God expressing Himself powerfully in all His works. This kingdom has both a present and a future aspect. It is a present reality in the world today (Mark 1:15; Luke 18:16-17; Col 1:13; Heb 12:28), yet God’s rule and power are not completely realised. The work and influence of Satan and evil people will continue until the end of the age (1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 3:1-5; Rev 19:19-20:10). The future manifestation of God’s glory, power and kingdom will occur, when Jesus returns to judge the world (Mat 24:30; Luke 21:27; Rev 19:11-20; 20:1-6).

The ultimate fulfillment of the kingdom comes when Christ finally triumphs over all evil and opposition, and hands over the kingdom to God the Father (1 Cor 15:24-28; Rev 20:7-21:8).

Jesus resurrection confirms the assurance that we belong to an “unshakable kingdom” (Heb 12:28; Dan 2:44; 6:26). The kingdom of Jesus is an everlasting kingdom (Is 9:6,7). The founders/originators of all other religions, philosophies, empires, kingdoms, unions etc. are dead and their institutions are either already in extinction or in the process of going into oblivion. Some of the empires that have gone into oblivion are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes and Persians, Greece, Roman and Ottoman. There are currently various religions, kingdoms, empires, unions, etc. now divided from within over ideologies. A particular religion which is viciously anti-Christ and Christians is even killing its own members over ideologies, which were originally founded on falsehood—Satan’s lies.

Jesus Himself has said: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Mat 12:25)
“If a kingdom be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24,25)
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a houses falleth” (Luke 11:17)
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